ROMAN CATHOLICISM
In the 17th century and the first half of the 18th
Roman Catholic worship was carried on by
the Petres at Bellhouse
(see above). This was one of the places served by the
secret Jesuit mission in eastern England which was
founded about 1633 and largely financed by the
Petres. (fn. 56) The first William Petre of Bellhouse was a
servant of Charles I and in 1639 the king personally
intervented to prevent him from being prosecuted for
recusancy. (fn. 57) In 1676 there was an unusually large
number of papists in Stanford Rivers. (fn. 58) There was
probably a private chapel at Bellhouse, (fn. 59) and Roman
Catholic worship continued there until after the death
of William Petre in 1745. (fn. 60) The date when it finally
ceased is not certain, but it is unlikely to have continued
for long after the death of John Petre in 1762.
The Petres also contributed generously to the support of Roman Catholicism elsewhere. During the
reign of Charles II an annuity of £40 out of the manor
of Stanford Rivers was being paid to each of two
members of the family, Richard and Robert Petre,
who had become Jesuits. (fn. 61) In 1678, however, these
revenues were seized by the government. (fn. 62) William
Petre (d. 1728) made settlements on at least five of his
daughters who became nuns. (fn. 63) His son Robert (1700-
66) became a Jesuit. (fn. 64)
Footnotes
| 56 |
H. Foley, Recs. of Eng. Province of
Soc. of Jesus, v, 536. |
| 57 |
Cal. S.P. Dom. 1638-9, 607; ibid.
1639, 427. |
| 58 |
See below, p. 311. |
| 59 |
R.C. Parish of Brentwood, MS. Book
(Letter of J. F. Wright, 1854). |
| 60 |
See above, Manor of Stanford Rivers. |
| 61 |
Cal. S.P. Dom. 1689-90, 359, 434;
ibid. 1690-1, 451. For the identity of Ricd.
and Robt. Petre see Foley, Recs. of Eng.
Province of Soc. of Jesus, ii, 585. |
| 62 |
Ibid. |
| 63 |
See above, Manor of Stanford Rivers. |
| 64 |
Foley, Recs. of Eng. Province of Soc.
of Jesus, ii, 585. |